In Memoriam: Ford Nation (November 18, 2013–November 18, 2013)

We hate to say, “We told you so,” so we will instead say, “It was perhaps imprudent and tacky to reward a drug-abusing public servant with a television show.” Yes, Ford Nation, Canada’s McLaughlin Group, was canceled immediately following its premiere—its dazzling, nascent light extinguished like a crack pipe just before a police raid.

“Sun News Network vice-president Kory Teneycke says Ford Nation was the highest rated program ever on the channel, grabbing 155,000 viewers when it first aired last night,” CTV News reports. “But he says despite the large viewership the show proved too costly to make, taking five hours alone to record and another eight to edit.” Aw, Canada!

In the Toronto mayor’s defense: the show’s costume designer was able to purchase hundreds of “Ford-style ties” for about $140. Those that did not disintegrate on the ride back to the studio went a long way toward bringing down the wardrobe budget.